Folding adjustable beach chair



July 24, 1951 N; RIKELMAN FOLDING ADJUSTABLE BEACH CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1948 INVENTOR. I NA'Il-JAN RIKELMAN July 24, 1951 Filed March 25, 1948 N. RIKELMAN FOLDING ADJUSTABLE BEACH CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. NATHAN RIKELMAM Patented July 24, 1951 I'VUNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE FOLDING ADJUSTABLE BEACH CHAIR Nathan Rikelman, New York, N. y. Application March 23, 1948, Serial No. 16,433

3 Claims. (01. 155-154) a This invention relates to a foldable beach chair. h lleretofore there has been a great deal of bother and trouble with the average beach chair. Itis usual for the canvas to tear at points where it wears against the wooden frame. The ordinary man discards the entire beach chair after the. canvas rips, due to the difficulty of replacing the canvas. Another difficulty with the conventional chairs is that the hood continually falls down. This is due to the fact that it is long and heavy and. is pivoted at one end only and held by friction, and there is not sufiicient frictional contact to lock the hood. For this same reason, it is diliicult to adjust conventional hoods to the right elevation, which is dependent upon the position of the sun at the time that the beach chair is being used. The wooden frame of conventional beach chairs is faulty, since the wood warps and cracks when it is left exposed to "rain and dampness, the varnish comes off, and the rivet holes wear rapidly. Furthermore, conventional beach chairs are of such a length that they cannot be disposed in automobile trunks for transit to the beach.

The object of the present invention is to pro- Vide a beach chair which overcomes all of the above faults, the beach chair having a metal telescopic frame which cannot warp or crack and which can be reduced in over-all size for carriage in an automobile trunk. Special means are provided to simplify the replacement of the canvas and to hold the hood.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

,In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig.,1 is a perspective view of the foldable beachchair constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the chair frame perse with all cloth parts removed.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the chair. Fig. 4 is a plan. view of the seat frame per se. Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of Fig.2 having a portion thereof shown insection.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged-partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

.Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view takenon the line l! of Fig. 1. i V i ig. a is a sectional: view taken onthe line Fig. 9 is anenlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9.ofFig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view of the connected ends of the seat frame and the foot rest.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view partly in section of the foot rest and one. of its supporting legs.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the seat cloth per se.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the hood per se;

Fig. 14 is a partial collapsed view of the chair frame. r

The foldable beach chair, according to the present invention, comprises a seat frame Zil, shown in detail in Fig. 4, which is rectangular in shape and constructed of aluminum alloy tubing bent to the desired form. The adjacent ends of the tubing at the back of the frame are.

bridged by a dowel 2i. In addition, the adjacent ends of theframe 20 may be welded or in any other similar manner attached together. The side arms of the seat frame 20 adjacent the back of the frame are provided with metal strips 22 provided with notches 23. The notches 23 are arranged in laterally aligned pairs on opposite sides of the seat frame 20.

The foldable beach chair further includes a back frame 24 consisting of a bottom U -shaped frame member 25 and an inverted top U-shape l frame member 26. The frame members 25 and 26 are also constructed of aluminum alloy tubing.

and the side arms of the top U-shaped member 26' are extended into the arms of the bottom U-shaped member 25. Thus, the back frame 26 is telescopically constructed to be extended when in use and to be contracted when not in use to reduce the over-all size of the chair when folded, facilitating its storage and its being carried in the luggage compartment of a motor vehicle.

The side arms of the interengaged members 25 and 26 are provided with means for preventing their complete disengagement when extended, and for holding them in the extended position. To prevent the complete disengagement of the members 25 and 26, the ends of the side arms of the top Ll shaped member 26, Within the ends 'ofthe side arms of the bottom U- shaped member 25, carry sleeves 27, which are securely. welded to the side arms of the mem ber 26. Upon outward movement of the member 25, the sleeves are adapted to engage inwardly directed ofthe side arms of the bottom U-shaped memberf25 The sleeves 21 are of a considerable length so as to retain the interengaged ends or flanges 28 screw threaded into the ends the side arms of the members 25 and 26 against wobbling in the fully extendedposition of the top U-shaped frame member 26.

To retain the top U-shaped frame member. 26 in its fully extended position, the member 26 carries catch members 29 extended through slots 30 on the inner sides of the side arms of the frame member 26. The catch members are mounted upon the central portions of leaf springs 3i disposed Within the side armsof the frame member 26. The catch members 29' are attached to the leaf springs 3| by means of pins 32, and. the free ends of the springs 3| are bent to con-' tact the opposite faces of the sidearms' ofthe U-shaped frame member 26 to retain the catch members 29 in their operative position. Inth'e extended positions to adjust the angularposition of the hood frame 38.

When folding the beach chair, the set screws as are loosened and the stem portions 42 of the telescopic arms 48 are withdrawn from the tubular portions ti, leaving the stem portions 42 free to swing downward into an inoperative position along the side arms of the top U-shaped frame member 25, see Fig. 14. The hood frame 38 is then free to be pivoted irito'jan inoperative position along the back of the back frame 24, also as shown in Fig. 14. The catches 29 on the top "U'-shaped' frame member 26 are then pressed inwardly freeing the frame member 26 to be colfully extended position of the top Uj-shaped'framei member 26, the catch members are adapted to engage the top faces of the flanges 28 mounted on the endsof the side arms of the bottom U- shaped frame member 25fto preWent the frame member 26 from moving inwardly relative to the frame member 25. When it is desired to collapse these frame members 25 and 26, it is merely necessary to press-ihwardly'on the catch members 29, against the action of the leaf springs- 3I, until the outer ends of the catch members clear the inner faceof the side arms of the bottom U-shaped frame member 25, and then the top u-shapedffr-ame member 26 can be moved toward the frame member 25. v

Vertical legs 33 are pivotally attached to the sides of the seat frame adjacent. the front thereof, intermediate their ends, by .pins 34. The

top ends of the vertical legs 33 are in turn pivotally attached to the front ends of fiat arm rests 35 by means of pins 36. The rear ends of the arm rests35 are attached tostuds 3% extendin from metallic rings 3 welded inlposition upon the side arms of the bottom U-shaped frame mem-v ber of the back. frame 24. The vertical legs 33 and the arm rests'35 are also-preferably con-v structed of aluminum alloy material and all connections of these partsare pivotal connections.

A hood frame 38 is attached to the top of the. back frame 24 and extends forwardly into a super-imposed position above the seat frame 20. This hood frame is U-shaped and formed of aluminum alloy tubular material and has the free ends of its side arms pivotally attached to the top-ends of the side armsof the top U-shaped frame member 2B of the back frame 24 by means of pins 39. Means is providedforholding the hood frame 38 in various pivoted positions relative to -theback frame 24. This means comprises telescopic arms 46 between the hood frame 39 and the back frame z l. Each of the telescopic arms it comprises a tubular portion 4| and a stem portion 42, The'tubular'po'rtionll has its:

outer end bifurcated and the arms 43 thereof extend along opposite sides of the side arms of the hood frame '38 a'nd'a'r'e pivotally attached thereto by a'pin '44. The end of the stem portion 42 is p'ivotally attached by means of 'a'pin 45 to a bracket welded to the side arm of the top U-sha'ped'frarne member 26.

The ends of the stem portions 42 of the f'telescopic arms 40 are slidably extended into the tubular portions ll, and the ends of 'thetubular portions 41 are reinforced by means of'rings "41 welded in position-thereon. -"Set screws 48"threadedly engage through the rings and the-"ends of the tubular portions 4| and bear against the stem portions :32 for selectively holding the tubu- I lar portions M and the stem portions 42 in various lapsed .into the, bottom U-shaped frame member 252" The manner of completing the folding of the beach chair will be obvious to those skilled in the art, It will be appreciated that the present construction provides a convenient chair which can be quickly and easily folded to small si'zegwi-th none of 'the partsb'eing entirely -'separated; therefrom to become lostbetweenthetimes that the chair is used; The small size -which the chair foldsinto permits "it to be conveniently stored in small space"orcarri'ed in the luggage compartment of a motor vehicle.

A bond as is provided "for engagement-over the hood frame 38. The hood 49 is made of"canvas, duck or other- -similar materials and is provided with a-de'pending fringe 50. -A-combined seat and back 5| is extended between the front "arm o'f the seat frame 2i! and the top armofthe "top U-shaped frame member 256i the backfrar'ne- 2-45. The combined seat and backfi'l -i's'likewis'e made of canvas, duck, orother similar material;

but is preferably made of the same material as the hood43.

Novel means is v provided for securing the hood 4'9 and the combined seat and back St in position upon their respective portions of the beach chair frame. the hood wand the =combined'sea't andbackS-l are provided at spaced pointsfwith' metallicgrommets 52, and the-corresponding "portions ofthe seat frame are provided with complementary tu-rnbuckles 53. All "of the turnbuckles'53 are alike in construction and comprise shank portions 54' rotatively extended through the respec tive portions of the seat frame. Rectangular heads 1 55 e "are formed "on the shank portions "54 and are adapted-to be extended through rectangular openings in the metallic grommets After being passedthrough the rectangular openings in the grommets 52, the rectangular heads 55 of the turnbuckles are'adapted -to be turnedto extend at right-angles to the rectangular 'ope'nings to hold the grommets against coming off the turnbu'ckles '53. The construction will serve to releasably attach the hood Y9and-the combined seat and back 5| inposition fpermittin'g their interchange with new hoods "and combined seat and backs "when the *o'n'es being used become torn, faded, or for some other reason can-ndt' b'e used. With "the construction shown, the ends of the "combinedse'at and *back are turned partially around their respective portions of the seat frame -prior fto being attached in position "so as to 'belmore f-rigidly secured inposition.

A foot rest "56 is provided for the front of the beach chair, and comprises a U-shaped frameSl, of aluminum alloy material, having spaced slots 58 secured in p'osition'acrossthe front-endthereof to provide a foot resting surface. Extension members 59 extend from the free ends of the arms of the frame '51 and are provided at their To accomplish this secur'ement;

ends with hooks the seat frame 20. Springs 6| have one of their ends attached to the bottom face of the extensions 59 by means of pins 62, see Fig. 10. The free ends of the springs 6| engage the free ends of the hooks B9 and close the open side of the hooks preventing accidental displacement of the hooks 90 from the seat frame 20. When it is desired to separate the foot rest from the seat frame, it is merely necessary to move the free ends of the springs 6| away from the free ends of the hooks 60 opening the open side of the hooks permitting the hooks to be disengaged from the seat frame 20.

The extensions 59 are slidably extended into the ends of the side arms of the frame, and a ring 69 is engaged about the free end of each 50 which engage the front of side arm of the frame 51. Set screws 64 threadedly pass through the rings 63 and the ends of the side arms of the U-shaped frame 51 for holding the extensions 59 in various extended positions and so vary the length of the foot rest '56.

Supporting legs 65 are provided from the front end of the foot rest 56, and each leg 65 comprises a top portion 65 pivotally attached to the frame 5'! by means of a pin 61. The top portions 66 slidably engage into tubular bottom portions 68 which have their top ends reinforced by means of rings 69. Set screws 10 have threaded engagement with the rings 69 and the tubular bottom portions 68 and are adapted to be tightened against the top portions 66 for holding the legs 65 in various adjusted lengths.

Normally, the chair is set up as shown in Fig. 1, with the bottom arm of the U-shaped frame member 25 engaging one aligned pair of notches 23 formed in the strips 22 attached to the side arms to the seat frame 20. The angular position of the back frame 24 can be adjusted relae tive to the seat frame by engaging the back frame 24 with a desired aligned pair of the notches '23. It will be appreciated that a change in the angular position of the back frame 24 will effect a corresponding change in the angular position of the arms 35.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A foldable beach chair comprising a seat frame, a collapsible back frame, a combined seat and back extended between said seat frame and said back frame, means releasably connecting the ends of said combined seat and back to the adholding said back frame in various angular positions relative to said seat frame, said back frame being formed of opposed U-shaped frames having the free endsof their arms interengaged, means preventing complete disengagement of said frames, and means for releasably holding said frames in their extended positions.

2. A foldable beach chair comprising a seat frame, a collapsible back'frame, a combined seat and back extended between said seat frame and said back frame, means releasably connecting the ends of said combined seat and back to the adjacent portions of said frame, and means for holding said back frame in various angular positions relative to said seat frame, said back frame being formed of opposed U-shaped frames having the free ends of their arms interengaged, means preventing complete disengagement of said frames, and means for releasably holding said frames in their extended positions, said means preventing complete disengagement comprising sleeves fixjacent portions of said frame, and means for edly mounted on the ends of the side arms of one of said frames and engageable with complementary flanges on the ends of the side arms of the other of said frames.

3. A foldable beach chair comprising a seat frame, a collapsible back frame, a combined seat and back extended between said seat frame and said back frame, means releasably connecting the endsof said combined seat and back to the adjacent portions of said frame, and means for holding said back frame in various angular positions relative to said seat frame, said back frame being formed of opposed U-shaped frames having the free ends of their arms interengaged, means.

preventing complete disengagement of said frames, and means for releasably holding said frames in their extended positions, said releasable holding means comprising a spring pressed catch on one of said frames engaging the other of said frames.

NATHAN RIKELMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 798,823 McMahon Sept. 5, 1905 896,982 Flindall Aug. 25, 1908 1,855,130 Appleby Apr. 19, 1932 1,887,323 Perron Nov. 8, 1932 2,020,207 "Platter Nov. 5, 1935 2,288,411 Lowenhertz June 30, 1942 2,414,856 Cox Jan. 28, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 19,490 Australia Sept. 27, 1934 117,722 Austria May 10, 1930 

